Ensembles — Portland

Full Orchestras & String Orchestras

• Portland Overture Strings
• Interlude Orchestra
• Portland Chamber Strings
• Sinfonietta Orchestra
• Portland Camerata (inactive 24/25 season)
• Concert Orchestra
• Symphony Orchestra
• MYSfits (string ensemble)

Bands & Percussion

• Flute Ensemble (inactive 24/25 season)
• Percussion Studio
• Symphonic Wind Ensemble
• MYSticks (percussion ensemble)

Jazz Program

• Jazz Ensemble
• Jazz All-Stars

Portland Overture Strings

Entry-level Strings

Conductor: Brittany Newell

This strings-only ensemble is for players who have at least one year of experience with their instruments. Prior ensemble experience is not required, but players are expected to have basic music-reading skills and to know how to play in keys up to two sharps. Musicians in Overture will work on advancing their technical and musical knowledge, and be introduced to concepts such as following a conductor, music theory and how to listen and play. Teamwork is emphasized in a supportive environment.

Specific Skills Required:

• Sight-reading level equivalent to Suzuki Book 1 – 2
• Facility throughout first position
• Knowledge of flats and sharps: low 1st finger, low/high 2nd, 3rd or 4th finger

Interlude Orchestra

Entry-level Orchestra

Conductor: Erica Boland

Musicians in this full orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion) will be reading music in the keys up to three sharps. They should play with a nice tone, accurate intonation and have good rhythm skills. Musicians should be able to respond to changes in dynamics, tempo and meter. Rhythms will include triplets, 16th notes, and dotted rhythms. Interlude performs three concerts a year and takes a day tour in the spring.

Specific Skills Required:

• Sight-reading level equivalent to Suzuki Books 2 – 3
• Developing vibrato for all string players; slurred & staccato bowing styles
• Violins & violas: facility in third position
• Cellos: Knowledge of extensions & 4th position
• Winds, brass, & percussion:
  • chromatic scales and major and minor scales up to 3 sharps and flats in two octaves
  • comfortable in all meters including duple and triple meters
• Private lessons recommended

Portland Chamber Strings (formerly Baroque Strings)

Early-Intermediate Strings

Conductor: Darian Todd

Students in this strings-only group will continue to refine their ensemble skills. Focus will be on developing technical and musical skills specific to playing string instruments in ensemble settings, such as unifying articulation, various bow strokes, rhythmic precision, and aspects of tone production.

Specific Skills Required:

• Most or all of major and minor (melodic and harmonic) scales in at least two octaves.
• Sight-reading level equivalent to Suzuki Books 3 – 5
• Good vibrato and tone production
• Off-the-string bowing (spiccato)
• Violins & violas: facility up to 5th position
• Cellos: Knowledge of extensions & 5th position
• Private Lessons Recommended

Sinfonietta Orchestra

Intermediate Orchestra

Conductor: Marian Gutiérrez-Curiel

This full orchestra introduces young musicians to fun and challenging music at a very crucial moment in their artistic development. In addition to symphonic repertoire, selections include music from films, video games, Broadway shows and more, which will be attractive to students from both orchestral and band backgrounds. Students in this orchestra will polish their ensemble playing abilities, including rhythmic accuracy, tone production, balance, dynamics, blend, and most importantly: listening! Strings must perform between Chamber Strings and Camerata level. Woodwinds and brass must perform at or above Concert Band level. Private lessons are highly recommended.

Specific skills required:

• Strings: Most or all of major and minor (melodic and harmonic) scales in at least two octaves.
• Sight-reading level equivalent to Suzuki Books 4-5, fully developed vibrato for all strings players, slurred, spiccato & staccato bowing styles.
• Violins & violas: facility up to 5th position
• Cellos: Knowledge of extensions & 5th position
• Bassoonists must be able to read and play in tenor clef
• Clarinetists should have basic transposition skills
• Trumpet and horn players should have basic transposition skills
• Private lessons recommended

Portland Camerata (formerly Vivaldi Strings)

Ensemble inactive for the 2024-2025 Season.

High-Intermediate Strings

Conductor: Paloma Griffin Hébert (On leave 2024-2025 Season)

Camerata is a strings-only, high-intermediate chamber orchestra that plays a wide variety of music, from baroque to contemporary. Players are expected to have strong skills in sight-reading, intonation and rhythm. Camerata performs three concerts a year plus additional outreach performances. Private lessons are required.

Specific Skills Required:

• Sight-reading level equivalent to Suzuki Books 6 – 7
• Fully developed vibrato for all strings players, slurred & staccato bowing styles.
• Violins & violas: facility up to 7th position
• Cellos: Knowledge of extensions & beyond 5th position

Concert Orchestra

Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra

Conductor: Giancarlo Castro D’Addona

This full orchestra performs challenging unabridged pieces from the standard orchestral repertoire. All Concert Orchestra members must show a high proficiency in their playing and be able to demonstrate the full range of abilities for their instrument. Appropriate instruments should be comfortable transposing and playing in multiple clefs (see below). Woodwinds and brass must perform at Symphonic Band level. Concert Orchestra performs three concerts a year plus an outreach concert.

Specific skills required:

• Concert Orchestra players must take private lessons
• Sight-reading level equivalent to Suzuki Books 7-8; early concerto repertoire (violins: Viotti, Accolay, Mendelssohn)
• STRINGS: Facility in all positions and bowing techniques
• Cellists must be able to read and play fluently in tenor and treble clef
• Violists should have facility in treble clef
• Bassoonists must be able to read and play in tenor clef
• Clarinetists should have transposition skills
• Trumpet and horn players should have transposition skills

Symphony Orchestra

Advanced Orchestra

Conductor: MYS Music Director, Raúl Gómez-Rojas

The Symphony Orchestra is reserved for HIGHLY advanced players who exhibit sophisticated musical and technical abilities. This ensemble requires a high level of self-discipline and private lessons are required. The Symphony performs masterpieces from the standard orchestral repertoire, great choral works, music by living and underrepresented composers and presents four concerts each season in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall or Newmark Theater, plus additional mini-tours and international tours.

Symphony Players must have all skills required for lower groups, AND:

• Violists must be able to fluently read and play in treble clef.
• Cellists must be able to fluently read and play in tenor AND treble clefs.
• Bassoonists & trombonists must be able to read and play in tenor clef.
• French horn, trumpet & clarinet players must have excellent transposing skills.
• Flute players may be asked to play piccolo.
• Clarinet players should have access to an A Clarinet, and may be asked to play bass clarinet and E-flat clarinet.
• Oboe players may be asked to play English Horn.

MYSfits String Ensemble

Advanced Strings

Co-Directors: Kenji Bunch and MYS Music Director, Raúl Gómez-Rojas

MYSfits is a self-conducted ensemble made up of string players from Symphony Orchestra. Under the co-direction of composer and multi-instrumentalist Kenji Bunch and MYS Music Director Raúl Gómez-Rojas, this group explores music beyond what has been traditionally considered “classical,” from fiddle to funk and everything in between.

Mr. Bunch explains: “Though we often think of classical music as exclusive, the very nature of this tradition is to constantly evolve and absorb new ideas and influences. With MYSfits, I use my experiences as a multi-style musician to help widen our tent and make room for approaches to string playing and music-making previously considered ‘non-classical.’ Through this work, we have the potential to become true musical omnivores and help recalibrate expectations for what the next generation of string players could- or should- be capable of in the 21st century.”

MYSfits members excel in their leadership and community service. In addition to three concert performances each season, the group performs outreach concerts for school children, at benefit concerts and special events. The ensemble often works with world-class guest teaching artists who help coach the group in rehearsals. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma famously heard MYSfits playing in the lobby of the Arlene Schnitzer Hall and decided to sit in to play with them! MYSfits were then invited to join him on-stage to hear his solo recital. MYSfits members are selected based on Symphony Orchestra seating auditions.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble

High Intermediate/Advanced Level

Conductor: Adam Eccleston

MYS Symphonic Wind Ensemble is reserved for high intermediate and advanced wind, brass and percussion players who exhibit sophisticated musical and technical abilities. This ensemble requires a high level of self-discipline and private lessons are required.

MYS Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE) will follow the tradition and format of the nation’s leading music institutions – Julliard, NEC, Eastman, etc.  – to perform standard classical repertoire alongside new premieres, music from around the globe, marches, and more. Music for wind ensemble typically provides more playing time for each individual musician than other ensemble types (such as full orchestra). It features independence on parts, solo opportunities, and prepares students for today’s musically diverse professional world. SWE will offer a method of training that focuses on blend, listening, dynamic contrasts, independent playing and technical aptitude, much like a symphony orchestra.

SWE creates new opportunities for students to share and build camaraderie with other wind/brass/percussion players. Additionally, students will be well-prepared for statewide solo and ensemble competitions.  SWE is like playing at All-State each week!

Symphonic Wind Ensemble players should:

• Know chromatic scales and all major and minor scales in at least two octaves
• Strong sight-reading skills, intonation, rhythm and musicality.
• Bassoonists & trombonists must be able to read and play in tenor clef.
• French horn, trumpet & clarinet players must have excellent transposing skills.
• Flute players may be asked to play piccolo.
• Clarinet players should have access to an A Clarinet and may be asked to play bass clarinet and E-flat clarinet. 
• Oboe players may be asked to play English Horn.
• Private lessons required

Flute Ensemble

Ensemble inactive for the 2024-2025 Season.

Intermediate Level

Director: Adam Eccleston

The MYS Flute Ensemble allows intermediate students to explore fun repertoire and maximize instrument-specific coaching. The format of this group helps young musicians improve their chamber music skills and, for interested students, proficiency in auxiliary instruments such as piccolo and alto flute.

Percussion Studio

All Levels

Director: Kevin Schlossman

The Percussion Studio is offered to percussion students across all MYS orchestras and bands.  This class will include technique for different orchestral percussion instruments, care and maintenance of instruments, orchestral excerpts, orchestral and band etiquette and any other relevant topics.

MYSticks Percussion Ensemble

Advanced Level

Director: Kevin Schlossman

MYSticks is an advanced percussion ensemble for MYS students in Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band. MYSticks explore the vast repertoire for percussion ensemble, with an emphasis on fun, challenging and engaging music by living composers. MYSticks allows our percussion students to have a very important outlet for making music front-and-center, in addition to orchestral and band repertoire. Students will also work with guest professional percussionists from Portland and beyond.

Jazz Program

MYS is one of the few youth orchestras in the country offering a jazz program. MYS jazz groups are big bands or combos that play in competitions, festivals and at clubs around Portland, in addition to appearing on the MYS concert series.

Jazz Ensemble

Director: Owen Broder

The MYS Jazz Ensemble is a large ensemble inspired by the great big bands of all time, such as the groups led by Count Basie, Duke Ellington and more. Students explore this repertoire in a fun and challenging environment. Technical and musical requirements for entry into the MYS Jazz Ensemble are similar to those of MYS Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and above. Experience in improvisation is welcome but not required. Students with limited improvisation skills will develop those skills within the ensemble. 

Jazz All-Stars

Director: Christopher Brown

The MYS Jazz All-Stars ensemble is a new ensemble in the 2024-2025 season. It is geared toward highly experienced young jazz musicians. Members have advanced technical skills in their instruments, and are comfortable improvising in a variety of styles. The technical and musical expectations are equivalent to those of OMEA All-State jazz ensembles. [link to OMEA 2025 audition packet for reference].